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Question: Could someone please explain iambic pentameter!?
I am trying to understand this iambic pentameter in a Shakespeare sonnet!. I would be most greatful for any help!
Nature
As a fond mother, when the day is o'er,
Leads by the hand her little child to bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led,
And leave his broken playthings on the floor,
Still gazing at them through the open door,
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which, though more splendid, may not please him more;
So Nature deals with us, and takes away
Our playthings one by one, and by the hand
Leads us to rest so gently, that we go
Scarce knowing if we wish to go or stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends the what we know!.
Thank you in advance!Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
If it's really just the iambic pentameter (the meter) that you're trying to understand and not the meaning of the poem, it's simply this: any iambic meter is made up of poetic "feet" that each consist of an unstressed, or unaccented, syllable followed by a stressed (accented) one!. PENTAmeter contains five poetic feet!. Thus iambic pentameter goes "a ONE, a TWO, a THREE, a FOUR, a FIVE!." Shakespeare's line "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day!?" is an example, although we don't actually stress the "to" the way a strict reading of the meter would require!. (In English, any classical poetic meter often has a slight irregularily here or there to keep it from being monotonous!.) The poem you quote does this at the beginning: The reader stresses "as" and "fond" more than "a!."
Incidentally, this sonnet is not Shakespearean in either sense!. In form, it's a Petrarchan or Italian sonnet, since lines 1, 4, 5, and 8 rhyme, as do lines 2, 3, 6, and 7, and then there are three new rhyming sounds in lines 9-14!. In other words it has an abbaabba cdecde rhyme scheme, whereas an English or Shakespearean sonnet rhymes abab cdcd efef gg!. It's also much later than Shakespeare--it's by Longfellow!.
As for meaning, Longfellow is comparing nature, taking away the precious things of our lives and leading us to death, with a loving mother leading her child away from his broken toys to bed and promising him new and better toys when he wakes up!. Like the child who isn't sure whether he's ready for bed or whether he wants new toys, we're reluctant to leave this life behind but must trust that the afterlife will be far more wonderful!. You might read William Cullen Bryant's "Thanatopsis" for comparison http://www!.bartleby!.com/102/16!.html Both poets were American Romantics!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
yeah, exactly!!!! Pretty much what Aida said!
I couldn't agree more!
So what was the TRUE purpose of posting this passage, I wonder!? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Methinks there is more afoot here than meets the eye!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
google "no fear shakespeare" and go to the sparknotes link!. it translates shakespeare's words to modern englishWww@QuestionHome@Com